Fire escape and fire fighting capsule

ABSTRACT

A fire fighting and fire escape capsule which is tied to a helicopter for air delivery to the site of a fire in a forest, skyscraper building or other inaccessible location. The unit is in the form of an enclosed housing supplied by an attached umbilical cable with air fire retardant materials, electricity and other support items.

United States Patent [191 Richter et al.

1 1 FIRE ESCAPE AND FIRE FIGHTING CAPSULE Inventors: Calvin Richter; William E. Van

Wyck, both of Fresno, Calif.

The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc., New York, N.Y. a part interest Filed: Nov. 6, 1973 Appl. No.: 413,360

Assignee:

[52] US. Cl. 169/62, 244/12 C [51] Int. Cl. A62c 3/00 [58] Field of Search 169/2 R, 2 A, 1 R, 62;

114/16 R, 235 R, 235 B; 244/1 SS, 12 C, 137

R, 137 P, 139, 140; 35/12 S References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1970 'Wakefield 272/33 R Aug. 13, 1974 3,635,183 l/1972 Keatinge 114/16 R 3,710,868 1/1973 Chadwick 169/2 A Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar Attorney, Agent, or FirmHoward l. Podell 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUGI 31974 mkwanmumg ZUMOFMF 592%?" I 1 FIRE ESCAPE AND FIRE FIGHTING CAPSULE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fire fighting and fire escape capsule which may be air-delivered by a helicopter to which it is attached. The device is in the form of a housing, mounted on a tripod, which is attached by an umbilical cable to the helicopter, with said umbilical cable supplyng fire-fighting and life support needs.

The advantage of this capsule is that it may be employed to fight fires in otherwise inaccessible locations and rapidly transported from place to place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the capsule as shown in FIG. 1 may be delivered by a helicopter (not shown) to which it is attached by umbilical cable 18. The capsule rests on its three support legs 11 when in place. Fire fighters may enter or exit from the capsule through door 14 which opens onto platform 13. Ladder 12 is utilized for reaching the ground level from platform 13. A railing 17 is fitted about platform 13. Fireproof glass panels are fitted in the wall 31 of the capsule 10. The umbilical cord 18 which is connected to a helicopter is a composite structural cable fitted with power and communication cables 22 and 25 respectively and with ducts 21 and 24 for the supply of air and fire retardant chemicals respectively. A flexible steel cable 23 serves as the tensile member of umbilical cord 18 which is wrapped with a fire-resistant filler 20 and sheathed in a cover 19 of fire-resistant material.

The interior of the capsule may be fitted with compartments for retaining supplies of first-aid and firefighting equipment as well as necessary tools and other accessory equipment.

A grapnel l6 and cable may be fitted to the exterior of the capsule.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A capsule for use infire fighting and fire rescue work which is supported and transported to position by an attached umbilical cable,

said cable containing cables for supply of electrical power and for communication purposes, together with ducts for supplying air and fire-retardant chemicals, together with a structural cable which carries the tension load of the capsule when it is so suspended.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which three legs are fitted in tripod fashion to the bottom of the capsule.

3. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which the capsule is fitted with a door.

4. The combination, as recited in claim 3, in which an exterior platform is mounted to the capsule adjacent to the door. 

1. A capsule for use in fire fighting and fire rescue work which is supported and transported to position by an attached umbilical cable, SAID CABLE CONTAINING CABLES FOR SUPPLY OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND FOR COMMUNICATION PURPOSES, TOGETHER WITH DUCTS FOR SUPPLYING AIR AND FIRE-RETARDANT CHEMICALS, TOGETHER WITH A STRUCTURAL CABLE WHICH CARRIES THE TENSION LOAD OF THE CAPSULE WHEN IT IS SO SUSPENDED.
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which three legs are fitted in tripod fashion to the bottom of the capsule.
 3. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which the capsule is fitted with a door.
 4. The combination, as recited in claim 3, in which an exterior platform is mounted to the capsule adjacent to the door. 